Apparatus for purifying water

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for purifying water comprises: a cold water unit configured to store cold water therein; an ice making unit configured to make the cold water into ice cubes; a first heat exchanger configured to supply cold air to the ice making unit; and a second heat exchanger configured to supply cold air to the cold water unit. Since the heat exchangers are individually disposed at the cold water unit and the ice making unit, the temperature of the cold water supplied from the cold water unit may be easily controlled. Furthermore, this may allow the cold water to be supplied to a user with a uniform temperature.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an apparatus for purifying water, and more particularly, to an apparatus for purifying water capable of making cold water and ice cubes and providing them to a user.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, an apparatus for purifying water serves to filter harmful ingredients such as foreign materials or heavy metals included in water in a physical or chemical manner. A similar apparatus to the water purifier may include an ionized water apparatus, etc.

This water purifier may be largely divided into a filtering unit for filtering contaminants from raw water, a storing unit for storing purified water having passed through the filtering unit, and a discharging unit for providing the purified water stored in the storing unit to a consumer.

Generally, the apparatus for purifying water is supplied to homes, companies, factories, etc. due to consumers' high concerns about health and a recent bad water quality.

As the apparatus for purifying water is universally supplied, increased are the consumers' demands for an apparatus for purifying water having an additional function to provide hot water and cold water as well as to purify water.

Nowadays, manufacturers for the apparatus for purifying water present out an apparatus for purifying water having an additional function to provide ice cubes, thereby attracting the consumers' interests.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Technical Problem

The apparatus for purifying water having a function to provide ice cubes has a structure that a refrigerant pipe along which a refrigerant having a low temperature flows is immersed in purified water accommodated in a predetermined container. Here, the purified water around the refrigerant pipe is frozen to form ice cubes, whereas the purified water accommodated in the container is cooled into cold water through heat exchange with the refrigerant pipe.

In this case, the temperature of the cold water is determined according to a heat exchange rate with a heat exchanger until the ice cubes are frozen to a predetermined size. Accordingly, it is difficult to control the temperature of the cold water in accordance with a consumer's demand.

Furthermore, the temperature of the cold water is varied according to a distance between the heat exchanger and the purified water. This may cause the temperature of the cold water provided to the consumer not to be constant.

Technical Solution

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for purifying water capable of providing cold water and ice cubes, controlling a temperature of cold water according to a user's demand, and providing cold water having a uniform temperature to the user.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided an apparatus for purifying water, comprising: a cold water unit configured to cool introduced purified water, and to store it in the form of cold water; an ice making unit configured to make the introduced purified water into ice cubes; a first heat exchanger configured to supply cold air to the ice making unit; and a second heat exchanger configured to supply cold air to the cold water unit.

The first and second heat exchangers may be serially connected to each other so that a refrigerant can sequentially pass therethrough.

The refrigerant may be supplied to the second heat exchanger from the first heat exchanger.

The first and second heat exchangers may be connected to each other in parallel so that refrigerant supply thereto can be individually controlled.

The refrigerant supply to the first and second heat exchangers may be controlled by a three-way valve.

The refrigerant supply to the first heat exchanger may be performed only when the ice making unit is operated.

Whether to perform the refrigerant supply to the second heat exchanger or not may be determined according to a temperature of the cold water.

The ice making unit may comprise a purified water container configured to accommodate therein received purified water; ice cube makers formed as a refrigerant pipe of the first heat exchanger is bent, and immersed into the purified water accommodated in the purified water container; and an ice cube storage portion configured to store the ice cubes separated from the ice cube makers, and to selectively discharge out the ice cubes.

The ice cube makers may be configured to make ice cubes by freezing the peripheral purified water.

The purified water container may be disposed so as to have an opened upper surface, and may be configured to turn upside down so as to discharge water remaining after the ice cubes have been completely made. And, the purified water container may be configured so that the ice cubes can be separated from the ice cube makers thus to be stored in the ice cube storage portion when made to turn upside down.

The cold water unit may comprise a cold water container disposed below the purified water container so as to accommodate the remaining water therein when the purified water container is made to turn upside down.

An upper surface of the cold water container may be formed with an inclination angle so that the ice cubes can be guided to the ice cube storage portion. And, a plurality of holes through which the remaining water passes may be formed at the upper surface of the cold water container.

The ice cube storage portion may be positioned next to the cold water container.

The second heat exchanger may be implemented as a refrigerant pipe wound on an outer surface of the cold water container a plurality of times.

Alternatively, the second heat exchanger may be implemented as a refrigerant pipe disposed to contact the cold water stored in the cold water container, and bent a plurality of times.

The ice making unit may comprise an ice making chamber partitioned into insulation spaces; ice cube makers installed at the ice making chamber, and configured to make ice cubes by receiving purified water; and an ice cube storage portion configured to store the ice cubes made by the ice cube makers, and to selectively discharge out the ice cubes. And, the first heat exchanger may be attached to the ice cube makers so that heat transfer can occur by conduction.

The cold water unit may be implemented as a cold water container disposed outside the ice making chamber, and configured to cool received purified water. And, the second heat exchanger may be implemented as a refrigerant pipe wound on an outer surface of the cold water container a plurality of times.

The cold water unit may be implemented as a cold water container disposed outside the ice making chamber, and configured to cool received purified water. And, the second heat exchanger may be implemented as a refrigerant pipe disposed to contact the cold water stored in the cold water container, and bent a plurality of times.

In the apparatus for purifying water according to the present invention, the heat exchangers are individually disposed at the cold water unit and the ice making unit. This may allow the temperature of the cold water supplied from the cold water unit to be easily controlled. Furthermore, this may allow the cold water to be supplied to a user with a uniform temperature.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view showing the appearance of an apparatus for purifying water according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a disassembled perspective view of an ice making unit of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line ‘II-II’ in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section view of a cold water unit of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section view showing a modification example of the cold water unit of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a view showing the operation of the ice making unit of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal section view showing an apparatus for purifying water according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal section view showing an apparatus for purifying water according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a disassembled perspective view of an ice making unit of FIG. 9.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Hereinafter, an apparatus for purifying water according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 is a view showing the appearance of an apparatus for purifying water according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section view of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a disassembled perspective view of an ice making unit of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line ‘II-II’ in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section view of a cold water unit of FIG. 2.

Firstly, an apparatus for purifying water according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1, the apparatus for purifying water 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a case 101 that forms the appearance, and various components disposed in the case 101 and configured to operate the apparatus for purifying water 100.

Generally, the case 101 is formed in a hexagonal shape. However, the case 101 may have various forms for enhanced designs.

On a front surface of the case 101, disposed is a state displaying portion 103 configured to display, to outside, a state of the apparatus for purifying water 100 (e.g., purified water amount, hot water amount, cold water amount, ice cubes amount, temperature of hot water, temperature of cold water, whether or not an ice cube making mode is operated, etc.).

The case 101 is further provided with a discharging unit 105 configured to discharge out purified water, cold water, ice cubes, etc.

Preferably, one or more surfaces of the case 101 are configured to be opened and closed so as to clean or repair components inside the case 101.

Just below the discharging unit 105, may be further provided a remaining water collector 105 configured to collect remaining water having not been accommodated in a container, etc. while discharging out purified water, ice cubes, etc.

Preferably, the remaining water collector 107 is detachably installed at the case 101 so as to easily remove the remaining water.

Hereinafter, the construction of the apparatus for purifying water 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 2, the apparatus for purifying water 100 according to the first embodiment comprises a filtering unit 180 disposed in the case 101, and configured to purify water introduced from a water supply source, etc.; a purified water storing unit 185 configured to store purified water passing through the filtering unit 180; a cold water unit 150 configured to cool the purified water supplied from the purified water storing unit 185 into a predetermined temperature, and then to store the cooled purified water therein; an ice making unit 120 configured to freeze the purified water in the form of ice cubes, and then to store the frozen ice cubes therein; and first and second heat exchangers 111, 112 configured to supply cold air to the cold water unit 150.

The filtering unit 180 includes one or more filters 181, and a filter head 183 configured to fixedly-couple the filters 181 thereto. The number of the filters 181 is varied according to a manufacturer's purposes.

The purified water storing unit 185 serves to store therein water purified through the filtering unit 180, and a maximum storage amount of the purified water is controlled by a floating valve 187.

The cold water unit 150 is connected to the purified water storing unit 185 by a tube thus to receive the purified water. And, the amount of the purified water supplied to the cold water unit 150 from the purified water storing unit 185 is controlled by a valve, etc.

The purified water stored in the cold water unit 150 is cooled by the second heat exchanger 112.

The ice making unit 120 includes a purified water container 121 configured to accommodate therein the purified water supplied from the purified water storing unit 185; ice cube makers 123 configured to make ice cubes by contacting the purified water stored in the purified water container 121; and an ice cube storage portion 125 configured to store the ice cubes made by the ice cube makers 123.

The first heat exchanger 111 supplies a refrigerant to the ice cube makers 123. And, the ice cube maker 123 immersed in the purified water stored in the purified water container 121 freezes the purified water, thereby making ice cubes.

The first and second heat exchangers 111, 112 are implemented as a refrigerant pipe through which a refrigerant having a low temperature passes.

Inside the case 101, provided are a compressor 114, a condenser 116, and an expander 118. And, the refrigerant pipe through which a refrigerant having a low temperature passes serves as the first and second heat exchangers 111, 112.

The first and second heat exchangers 111, 112 are serially connected to each other so that a refrigerant having passed through one of the first and second heat exchangers 111, 112 can pass through the other.

In the first embodiment, all the refrigerants having passed through the first heat exchanger 111 are supplied to the second heat exchanger 112.

Under these configurations, a refrigerant having a low temperature is supplied to the first heat exchanger 111 thus to form ice cubes, while a refrigerant having a high temperature is supplied to the second heat exchanger 112 thus to form cold water. This may increase the efficiency of energy.

Differently from this, all of the first and second heat exchangers 111, 112 may be implemented as thermoelectric elements.

The apparatus for purifying water 100 according to the first embodiment may further comprise a hot water storing unit 191 configured to accommodate the purified water storing unit 185 therein, and to store hot water heated to a predetermined temperature by a heating means 193 disposed at an outer side.

Here, the heating means 193 may be implemented as a heat wire.

Next, the ice making unit 120 will be explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the ice making unit 120 includes the purified water container 121, the ice cube makers 123, and the ice cube storage portion 125.

The purified water container 121 serves to store the purified water supplied from the purified water storing unit 185, and has an opened upper surface.

And, the purified water container 121 is configured to be able to turn upside down by a motor 121 a, so that ice cubes having been completely made by the ice cube makers 123 can be discharged from the ice cube makers 123 thus to be stored in the ice cube storage portion 125.

Preferably, the purified water container 121 has a semi-circular shaped sectional surface so as to prevent interference with other components when made to turn upside down.

The ice cube makers 123 are implemented as a plurality of protrusions protruding from the refrigerant pipe of the first heat exchanger 111 so that the refrigerant passing through the first heat exchanger 111 can be supplied thereto.

Inside the ice cube makers 123 and the first heat exchanger 111, may be further provided a refrigerant guide member 111 a in the protruding direction of the ice cube makers 123.

And, the ice cube makers 123 are disposed to be immersed in the purified water stored in the purified water container 121. Accordingly, the refrigerant passing through inside of the ice cube makers 123 is heat-exchanged with the purified water contacting outer surfaces of the ice cube makers 123. And, the purified water around the ice cube makers 123 is frozen to form ice cubes.

Preferably, the first heat exchanger 111 is curvedly formed so as to implement the ice cube makers 123 as much as possible.

Under these configurations, freezing occurs at the periphery of the ice cube makers 123, and thus vapor is scarcely formed in the ice cubes. This may allow the ice cubes to be made in the form of transparent ones.

The ice cubes made by the ice cube makers 123 are separated from the ice cube makers 123 by a heat emitting member (e.g., heat wire) disposed on an outer surface of the ice cube makers 123. Then, as the purified water container 121 is made to turn upside down, the ice cubes are discharged out from the purified water container 121 together with the purified water stored in the purified water container 121, thereby being stored in the ice cube storage portion 125.

Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 5, will be explained in more detail the cold water unit 150, and a process for separately storing the ice cubes and the purified water discharged from the purified water container 121.

Referring to FIG. 5, the cold water unit 150 includes a cold water container 151 configured to accommodate therein the purified water flowing down from the purified water container 121 (so-called ‘remaining water’).

An upper surface of the cold water container 151 may be formed with an inclination angle so that the ice cubes can be guided to the ice cube storage portion 125.

At the upper surface of the cold water container 151, formed are a plurality of holes 151 a having a size large enough to pass the remaining water therethrough, but not to pass the ice cubes therethrough.

And, the ice cube storage portion 125 is positioned next to the cold water container 151 so that the ice cubes moving along the inclination plane of the upper surface of the cold water container 151 can be accommodated therein.

Under these configurations, when the purified water container 121 is made to turn upside down, the ice cubes discharged together with the purified water are transferred to the ice cube storage portion 125 along the inclination plane of the upper surface of the cold water container 151, thus to be stored therein.

Referring to FIG. 2, inside the ice cube storage portion 125, may be provided an auger 125 b configured to transfer the ice cubes stored in the ice cube storage portion 125 to the discharging unit 105, and an auger motor 125 a configured to drive the auger 125 b.

The purified water stored in the cold water container 151 is cooled by the second heat exchanger 112 implemented as a refrigerant pipe wound on an outer surface of the cold water container 151 a plurality of times.

In order to increase a heat exchange rate between the second heat exchanger 112 and the purified water stored in the cold water container 151, the second heat exchanger 112 is preferably fixed to an outer surface of the cold water container 151 by using a material having a high thermal conductivity.

Differently from this, as shown in FIG. 6, the second heat exchanger 112 may be installed in the cold water container 151.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section view showing a modification example of the cold water unit of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 6, a second heat exchanger 212 is positioned inside the cold water container 151 so as to contact the cold water stored in the cold water container 151. And, the second heat exchanger 212 is implemented as a refrigerant pipe bent a plurality of times so as to increase a contact area with the purified water.

Preferably, a hole into which the second heat exchanger 212 is inserted is formed on a wall surface of the cold water container 151. And, a hermetic member 153 is preferably provided so as to prevent leakage of the cold water stored in the cold water container 151.

Hereinafter, the operation of the ice making unit 120 of the apparatus for purifying water 100 according to the first embodiment will be explained in more detail with reference to FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 is a view showing the operation of the ice making unit of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 7, once the ice cube makers 123 immersed into the purified water container 121 have completely made ice cubes, the purified water container 121 is made to turn upside down by rotation of the motor 121 a.

Here, the purified water stored in the purified water container 121 falls down to be stored in the cold water container 151 through the plurality of holes 151 a formed on the upper surface of the cold water container 151.

The ice cubes separated from the ice cube makers 123 by heat fall on the upper surface of the cold water container 151. Then, the ice cubes are transferred to the ice cube storage portion 125 along the inclination plane on the upper surface of the cold water container 151, thus to be stored in the ice cube storage portion 125.

Then, as the auger 125 b of the ice cube storage portion 125 is rotated, the ice cubes are transferred to a discharge opening 125 c thus to be discharged out.

Hereinafter, an apparatus for purifying water according to a second embodiment will be explained in more detail with reference to FIG. 8.

The same construction as that of the first embodiment, and its detailed descriptions will be omitted.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal section view showing the apparatus for purifying water according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 8, in an apparatus for purifying water 300 according to the second embodiment, first and second heat exchangers 311, 312 are connected to each other in parallel so that refrigerant supply thereto can be individually controlled.

That is, the first and second heat exchangers 311, 312 are disposed so that a refrigerant having passed through an expander 318 can be supplied to the first heat exchanger 311 or the second heat exchanger 312 from a valve portion 310 a (e.g., three-way valve).

Preferably, whether to perform the refrigerant supply to the first heat exchanger 311 is determined according to whether an ice making operation is being performed or not.

Preferably, whether to perform the refrigerant supply to the second heat exchanger 312 is determined according to the temperature of cold water.

Under these configurations, the processes for making ice cubes and cooling cold water can be more intensively executed.

Hereinafter, an apparatus for purifying water according to a third embodiment will be explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.

The same construction as that of the first embodiment, and its detailed descriptions will be omitted.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal section view showing the apparatus for purifying water according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10 is a disassembled perspective view of an ice making unit of FIG. 9.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, an ice making unit 420 of the apparatus for purifying water 400 according to the third embodiment includes an ice making chamber 421 partitioned into insulation spaces; ice cube makers 423 installed at the ice making chamber 421, and configured to make ice cubes by receiving purified water; and an ice cube storage portion 425 configured to store the ice cubes made by the ice cube makers 423, and to selectively discharge out the ice cubes.

A first heat exchanger 411 may be attached to the ice cube makers 423 so that heat transfer can occur by conduction.

A cold water unit 450 may be implemented as a cold water container 451 disposed outside the ice making chamber 421, and configured to cool received purified water. And, a second heat exchanger 412 may be implemented as a refrigerant pipe wound on an outer surface of the cold water container 451 a plurality of times.

Alternatively, the cold water unit 450 may be implemented as the cold water container disposed outside the ice making chamber, and configured to cool received purified water. And, like in the first embodiment, the second heat exchanger 412 may be implemented as a refrigerant pipe disposed to contact the cold water stored in the cold water container 451, and bent a plurality of times.

It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 

1. An apparatus for purifying water, comprising: a cold water unit configured to store cold water therein; an ice making unit configured to make the cold water into ice cubes; a first heat exchanger configured to supply cold air to the ice making unit; and a second heat exchanger configured to supply cold air to the cold water unit.
 2. The apparatus for purifying water of claim 1, wherein the first and second heat exchangers are serially connected to each other such that a refrigerant can be sequentially supplied thereto.
 3. The apparatus for purifying water of claim 2, wherein the refrigerant is supplied to the second heat exchanger from the first heat exchanger.
 4. The apparatus for purifying water of claim 1, wherein the first and second heat exchangers are connected to each other in parallel so that the refrigerant supply to the first and second heat exchangers can be individually controlled.
 5. The apparatus for purifying water of claim 4, wherein the refrigerant supply to the first and second heat exchangers is controlled by a three-way valve.
 6. The apparatus for purifying water of claim 4, wherein the first heat exchanger is supplied with the refrigerant only when the ice making unit is operated.
 7. The apparatus for purifying water of claim 4, wherein whether to supply the refrigerant to the second heat exchanger or not is determined according to temperature of cold water.
 8. The apparatus for purifying water of claim 1, wherein the ice making unit comprises: a purified water container configured to accommodate therein water; ice cube makers formed as a refrigerant pipe of the first heat exchanger is bent, and immersed into the water accommodated in the purified water container; and an ice cube storage portion configured to store ice cubes separated from the ice cube makers, and to selectively discharge out the ice cubes.
 9. The apparatus for purifying water of claim 8, wherein the ice cube makers are configured to make ice cubes by freezing the peripheral water.
 10. The apparatus for purifying water of claim 8, wherein the purified water container is disposed so as to have an opened upper surface, and is configured to be made to turn upside down so as to discharge remaining water after the ice cubes have been made, and wherein when the purified water container is made to turn upside down, the ice cubes are separated from the ice cube makers thus to be stored in the ice cube storage portion.
 11. The apparatus for purifying water of claim 10, wherein the cold water unit comprises a cold water container disposed below the purified water container so as to accommodate the remaining water therein when the purified water container is made to turn upside down, wherein an upper surface of the cold water container is formed with an inclination angle so that the ice cubes can be guided to the ice cube storage portion, and wherein a plurality of holes through which the remaining water passes are formed at the upper surface of the cold water container.
 12. The apparatus for purifying water of claim 11, wherein the ice cube storage portion is positioned next to the cold water container.
 13. The apparatus for purifying water of claim 11, wherein the second heat exchanger is implemented as a refrigerant pipe wound on an outer surface of the cold water container a plurality of times.
 14. The apparatus for purifying water of claim 11, wherein the second heat exchanger is implemented as a refrigerant pipe disposed to contact the cold water stored in the cold water container, and bent a plurality of times.
 15. The apparatus for purifying water of claim 1, wherein the ice making unit comprises: an ice making chamber partitioned into insulation spaces; ice cube makers installed at the ice making chamber, and configured to make ice cubes; and an ice cube storage portion configured to store the ice cubes made by the ice cube makers, and to selectively discharge out the ice cubes, and wherein the first heat exchanger is attached to the ice cube makers so that heat transfer can occur by conduction.
 16. The apparatus for purifying water of claim 15, wherein the cold water unit is implemented as a cold water container disposed outside the ice making chamber, and configured to cool introduced water, and wherein the second heat exchanger is implemented as a refrigerant pipe wound on an outer surface of the cold water container a plurality of times.
 17. The apparatus for purifying water of claim 15, wherein the cold water unit is implemented as a cold water container disposed outside the ice making chamber, and configured to cool introduced water, and wherein the second heat exchanger is implemented as a refrigerant pipe disposed to contact the cold water stored in the cold water container, and bent a plurality of times. 